A complete TOPIK I vocabulary guide: the 800 essential Korean words tested on the beginner exam, grouped by theme and with pronunciation.
TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is the official Korean language exam recognized by the Korean government, universities, and employers worldwide. It is the Korean equivalent of IELTS or TOEFL.
TOPIK I is the beginner exam covering Levels 1 and 2. To pass Level 1, you need approximately 800 words. Level 2 requires around 1,500-2,000 words.
This guide gives you the core vocabulary categories, the most important words to know, and a study strategy to pass TOPIK I in 6-9 months from zero.
These appear in almost every TOPIK I reading and listening section.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 이름 | ireum | name |
| 나이 | nai | age |
| 나라 | nara | country |
| 직업 | jigeop | job, occupation |
| 학생 | haksaeng | student |
| 선생님 | seonsaengnim | teacher |
| 회사원 | hoesawon | office worker |
| 주소 | juso | address |
| 전화번호 | jeonhwa beonho | phone number |
| 가족 | gajok | family |
TOPIK I heavily tests time vocabulary.
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 오늘 | oneul | today |
| 내일 | naeil | tomorrow |
| 어제 | eoje | yesterday |
| 지금 | jigeum | now |
| 아침 | achim | morning |
| 점심 | jeomsim | noon / lunch |
| 저녁 | jeonyeok | evening / dinner |
| 주말 | jumal | weekend |
| 매일 | maeil | every day |
| 몇 시 | myeot si | what time |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 집 | jip | house, home |
| 학교 | hakgyo | school |
| 회사 | hoesa | company |
| 병원 | byeongwon | hospital |
| 은행 | eunhaeng | bank |
| 마트 / 슈퍼 | mateu / syupeo | mart / supermarket |
| 역 | yeok | (train/subway) station |
| 공원 | gongwon | park |
| 카페 | kape | cafe |
| 식당 | sikdang | restaurant |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 밥 | bap | rice / meal |
| 물 | mul | water |
| 커피 | keopi | coffee |
| 음식 | eumsik | food |
| 맛있다 | masitda | delicious |
| 맵다 | maepda | spicy |
| 달다 | dalda | sweet |
| 주문하다 | jumonhada | to order |
| 계산하다 | gyesanhada | to pay the bill |
| 얼마예요? | eolmayeyo | How much is it? |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 버스 | beoseu | bus |
| 지하철 | jihacheol | subway |
| 택시 | taeksi | taxi |
| 비행기 | bihaenggi | airplane |
| 기차 | gicha | train |
| 타다 | tada | to ride, to take |
| 내리다 | naerida | to get off |
| 갈아타다 | garatada | to transfer |
| 얼마나 걸려요? | eolmana geollyeoyo | How long does it take? |
| 어디서 타요? | eodiseo tayo | Where do I take it? |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 사다 | sada | to buy |
| 팔다 | palda | to sell |
| 가격 | gagyeok | price |
| 비싸다 | bissada | expensive |
| 싸다 | ssada | cheap |
| 크다 | keuda | big |
| 작다 | jakda | small |
| 색깔 | saekkal | color |
| 이거 | igeo | this one |
| 저거 | jeogeo | that one |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 아프다 | apeuda | to hurt, to be sick |
| 머리 | meori | head |
| 배 | bae | stomach |
| 손 | son | hand |
| 발 | bal | foot |
| 눈 | nun | eye |
| 귀 | gwi | ear |
| 약 | yak | medicine |
| 의사 | uisa | doctor |
| 주무세요 | jumuseyo | Please rest / sleep (to elder) |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 날씨 | nalssi | weather |
| 덥다 | deopda | hot |
| 춥다 | chupda | cold |
| 비 | bi | rain |
| 눈 | nun | snow |
| 봄 | bom | spring |
| 여름 | yeoreum | summer |
| 가을 | gaeul | autumn |
| 겨울 | gyeoul | winter |
| 맑다 | makda | clear, sunny |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 가다 | gada | to go |
| 오다 | oda | to come |
| 먹다 | meokda | to eat |
| 마시다 | masida | to drink |
| 자다 | jada | to sleep |
| 일어나다 | ireonada | to wake up |
| 공부하다 | gongbuhada | to study |
| 일하다 | ilhada | to work |
| 만나다 | mannada | to meet |
| 전화하다 | jeonhwahada | to call |
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 좋다 | jota | good |
| 나쁘다 | nappeuda | bad |
| 많다 | manta | many, a lot |
| 적다 | jeokda | few, a little |
| 빠르다 | ppareuda | fast |
| 느리다 | neurida | slow |
| 쉽다 | swipda | easy |
| 어렵다 | eoryeopda | difficult |
| 재미있다 | jaemiitda | interesting, fun |
| 피곤하다 | pigonhada | tired |
Month 1: Master Hangul + Categories 1-3 (100 words) Month 2: Categories 4-7 + grammar basics (200 more words) Month 3: Categories 8-10 + TOPIK practice tests (remaining words + review)
Use Anki spaced repetition for all vocabulary. Download past TOPIK exams from the official TOPIK website (free) and practice under timed conditions.
Vocabulary alone will not pass TOPIK I. The exam also tests:
TOPIK I has no writing section: it is reading and listening only. Writing first appears in TOPIK II.
The learners who pass fastest are in structured courses where vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening are developed together.
At Klovers, our Korean Level 1 curriculum is aligned to TOPIK I standards. Students who complete Level 1 have all the vocabulary, grammar, and test strategies to sit TOPIK I with confidence.